the big question, jim, why senator rubio? [laughter] >> reporter: well, the answer to that question is pretty easy. there is no question that senate rubio -- who was only elected in 2010 -- is already a star in the republican party, and that's why he'll give the official response to the president. listen. >> if there's one thing that republicans learned from the november election, that they need to do a better job of attracting hispanic votes. so the combination of rubio's eloquence, star power and his positions on immigration and other issues of interest to hispanics makes him really unbeatable for this position. >> reporter: young, hispanic and articulate. time magazine went so far as to put him on the cover of the magazine with the headline, "the republican savior," calling him the new voice of the republican party. in fact, he's authored bipartisan jobs legislation with plans for education and small business as well and, of course, a carefully-crafted immigration plan likely to draw bipartisan support. that is an issue cl